Doctors' group rejects MP's Medicare provider number plan

Country doctors have rejected a proposal that medical graduates should only get a Medicare provider number if they work in regions where they are needed.

The Member for Grey, Rowan Ramsey has put the idea to Federal Parliament.

Mr Ramsey says it would help ease doctor shortages in country areas.

However, Australia's Rural Doctors Association CEO, Jenny Johnson, says similar ideas have been rejected in the past.

"We actually do need doctors who want to go to rural areas - it's been proven that the carrot is more effective than the stick," she said.

"It's not just a case of getting any doctor to a rural community by some sort of forced program - we want doctors who've got the skills that are needed in those communities so that they can deliver the services that are needed."

The association's state president, Scott Lewis, holds a similar view.

"We would much prefer to see positive incentives put in place to work in rural areas and also specific rural-orientated training programs," he said.

Dr Lewis says local doctors are holding talks with the State Government to introduce a training program similar to one that is proving successful in Queensland.

He says that is likely to have a better outcome than restricting provider numbers.

"It's very easy to get caught in the trap of having unhappy and disenfranchised doctors stuck in areas where they don't want to be and those sort of people don't provide a service that will keep their communities happy," he said.